UN Jobs – National Professional Officer/Emergency Preparedness and Response at World Health Organisation (WHO)

Organisation: World Health Organisation (WHO)
Vacancy Notice No: AFRO/16/FT336
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Grade: NO-C
Reports to: WHO Representative
About WHO:
The
World Health Organisation (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for
health within the United Nations (UN) system. It is responsible for providing
leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda,
setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options,
providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health
trends.
Job Summary: The NPO/Emergency Preparedness and Response will
offer technical support to MOH and partners in the areas of Emergency
preparedness and response specifically strengthening disease surveillance,
response and control of disease outbreaks. In line with the international
initiatives such as the IHR and health security agenda.  The jobholder will also elaborate strategies
and guidelines to ensure the quality and usefulness of the system in place for
early warning, rapid assessments of the health and general condition of
affected populations during emergencies. The incumbent will support adaptation
and implementing Early Warning and Response Systems including IDSR to monitor
potential communicable disease outbreaks. The jobholder will support
coordination of partners to and promote harmonization and complementarity of
various initiatives. The incumbent will support the development of a
sustainable system for Emergency preparedness and response using innovative
approaches through the use of available and affordable technologies.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: Under the overall guidance of the WHO
Representative, and working in close collaboration with technical staff at
headquarters, Regional and Country Office, the incumbent:
  • Provides technical expertise and guidance in
    the field of Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) including provision
    of expertise and authoritative advice for the collection, validation,
    analysis and dissemination of data, the design and implementation of Early
    Warning and Response System, and the coordination of related activities.
  • Establishes and maintain close collaboration
    with a broad range of staff from MOH, health facilities District health
    offices and partners to promote and facilitate effective cooperation for
    the implementation of related policies and procedures
  • Offers support in capacity building in the
    country to meet the core IHR competencies. Monitor progress, identify
    critical gaps and support the review and re-planning for meeting the
    required core competencies.
  • Provides elaborate strategies and guidelines
    to ensure the quality and usefulness of EPR interventions including the
    Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response, monitoring and rapid
    assessments when required during emergencies;
  • Ensures a close contact and collaboration
    with MOH and district health offices to ensure timely communication of
    events of potential health risks including disease outbreaks. Monitor
    trends and report potential emergencies to ensure timely and coordinated
    response.
  • Keenly monitor internal WHO capacity to
    implement the WHO Emergency Response Framework (ERF) in collaboration with
    the other units within WHO. Participate in the development of strategies
    and implementation of interventions to build the WCO capacity to implement
    ERF.
  • Lead and promote the effective coordination
    of surveillance and assessment activities with Regional Offices and HQ as
    well as local, regional and national health entities and other
    international health partners including UN agencies and NGOs;
  • Offer support the MOH in collaboration with
    the regional office and HQ to strengthen cross border collaboration,
    capacity building and information exchange.
  • Secure information from a broad range of
    health sectors, analysing and recommending actions and guidelines for the
    elaboration of medium- and long-term plans of work and strategies, including
    consolidating health data in trends and trends assessment, with particular
    attention to surveillance, monitoring and early warning;
  • Perform any other duties as may be assigned
    by the WR
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
  • The ideal candidates for the World Health
    Organization (WHO) National Professional Officer/Emergency Preparedness
    and Response should hold a Degree in medicine and/or postgraduate degree
    in epidemiology, mathematics, or statistics, with specialization in public
    health and studies in computer sciences.
  • Additional training on disaster management
    and essential statistical packages and information management system is
    desirable
  • A minimum of two to three years of professional
    experience with an emphasis on Disease surveillance and emergency
    preparedness and response.
  • Previous experience in project management,
    ideally in the UN system and/or a public health context;
  • Good knowledge of GSM system or similar ERP
    systems;
  • Prior exposure and experience in staff
    training with surveillance and health management information systems.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of surveillance and
    monitoring systems as related to emergency preparedness and response,
    complemented by skills in the field of epidemiological or statistical data
    collection, assessment, analysis and the evaluation and monitoring in a
    public health context.
  • Proven ability to conceptualize and promote
    innovative strategies and policies. Ability to communicate and write in a
    clear and concise manner, and to develop effective guidelines. 
  • Excellent communication
    skills
  • Good monitoring, evaluation and analytical
    skills
  • Excellent negotiation and interpersonal
    skills complemented by ability to motivate and lead others, and to promote
    consensus. Ability for research and innovations to address critical gaps.
  • Computer literacy skills: Excellent knowledge of Microsoft
    applications (e.g. Excel, Word, PowerPoint etc) with an emphasis on Excel
    and other epidemiological research application.
  • Good knowledge of WHO health surveillance
    system and programme management an end-to-end business processes as
    designed in the Global Management system;
  • Languages: Excellent knowledge of English, with
    the ability to work in another UN language. Knowledge of local languages
    is an asset
Generic Competencies:
  • Producing results (core)
  • Fostering integration and teamwork (core)
  • Creating an empowering and motivating
    environment (managerial)    
  • Building and promoting partnerships across
    the Organization and beyond (managerial)
  • Respecting and promoting individual and
    cultural differences (core)
How to Apply:
All
candidates who so desire to join the United Nations World Health Organisation
(WHO) by sending their online applications to enable WHO to store their
personal profiles in a permanent database. Visit WHO’s e-Recruitment website
below and follow the instructions for online application procedures.
NB: All applicants are encouraged to apply online as
soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline
stated in the vacancy announcement.
Deadline: 14th June 2016
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